Please consider the southern shore of our Liberty State Park as a remnant of our natural beauty.

Walking along the north shore this past weekend, where commercial endeavors have been allowed to exist on the canal, I noticed their poor stewardship of such a special area. The care for anything other than profit is wanting.

The southern shore of the park, if you are familiar with the area, is a much more sensitive environment for all the things we should be ashamed of taxing -- flora, fauna, views, public access and the great odds of spills and 'deep sixed' materials furthering the historical disrespect our shores have experienced.

Jim Conlin, New York, NY

Park's south end should be commercial-free

We are residents of Jersey City who enjoy all the wonderful opportunities Liberty State Park offers -- open space, beautiful vistas, clean air and natural beauty. We are writing to voice our concerns about the marina being proposed at Liberty State Park's southern waterfront.

Right now, the southern end of the park is the area where families go to enjoy what little open space and clean air there is in Hudson County. Children run and play; people barbecue, fish, dance, ride bikes and spend summer weekend days outside enjoying one of a small number of places that is accessible, open and inviting on the Hudson County/Jersey City waterfront.

A short walk to the south is one of the few remaining urban bird habitats in our area. With wildlife habitats continually under threat, particularly in cities, this nesting area must be protected. A marina with noisy boat motors and requisite fuel leakage is a threat to that habitat.

The notion that public parks must pay for themselves is not a valid argument. Our state parks are already funded by taxpayer dollars, and should be allotted their share without having to entirely commercialize them. There is already a marina and two restaurants on the northern side of the park, which help to defray operating costs. The south end should remain commercial-free for everyone to enjoy.

At the very least we expect NJDEP to hold public hearings, at times when the public is able to attend, listen well and act on public comments. Liberty State Park is, after all, a public park, and the public must have a say in what happens there.

Thank you for the recent article about the proposed marina on the south side of Liberty State Park and the Friends of Liberty State Park's efforts to publicize what would be a secret deal. The public has a right to know about any such plans and must be allowed a public comment period prior to any such decision. Any public hearings and comment period need to be on a Saturday as it is primarily the working people of New Jersey who will be affected by these plans.

The south shore of the park, with its jetties, provides opportunities unique to the whole area and is beloved by many. This is the only place in the park where people can walk directly up to the intertidal water's edge. Any marina would drastically reduce -- remove completely -- most people's direct access to the water.

On a hot summer day, the cool breeze blowing up the Narrows draws many people daily and on weekends for a myriad of activities, both quiet and energetic. Families come for picnics, and individuals come for peace and quiet and/or to explore the shore and its wildlife. In other seasons, people come as well to watch the year and day progress. Any marina would strip the area of all of this possiblity and adventure.

Another aspect of this particular season of the park is its broad views. From there, a person can take in the breadth of the harbor and the breadth of history in the area. If anything were to be developed, it should be people's ability to connect with the rich history and natural history of the area.

The Caven Point Natural Area is off limites to humans from March 1 to Oct. 1, being home to migrating and nesting birds. Try to imagine how a mess of boat traffic would impact that rare haven for wildlife. Is the Department of Environmental Protection not supposed to protect the environment?

"Like Governor Christie, I am personally committed to ensuring that the DEP protects New Jersey's water, air, land and precious natural resources, and that we rapidly and predictably issue permits, clean up contaminated sites and preserve our treasured open space for future generations." -Commissioner Bob Martin

Let the public see how the Department of Environmental Protection lives up to those words with public hearings -- on a Saturday, of a non-holiday weekend.